Electric remote control apparatus for stop valves



Jan, 8, 1929. 1,698,174

I FJSAUTER macaque nsuom CONTROL APPARATUS FOR STOP VALVES Filed Dec. 12. 1927 3 sheets -sheet I Fig. 1.

Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,114

F. SAUTER ELECTRIC REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR STOP VALVES Filed 060.12, 1927 s Sheets-shag: 2'

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Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,174

F. SAUTER ELECTRIC REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR STOP VALVES Filed Dec. 12, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet Patented Jan. 8, i929.

FRITZ SAUTER, OF BASEL, SWITZERLAND.

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ELECTRIC REMOTE CONTROL APPAIBJATUS FOR STOP VALVES.

Application filed December 12 1927, SerialNo.

This invention relates to electric remotecontrol apparatus for step valve having an electric motor adapted to close and open the valve by rotating alternately in one direction or the opposite direction, the motor being for example controlled by hand, by a device dependent upon temperature conditions, by a device dependent upon pressure conditions, or by clockwork dependent upon time. According to the invention the movement of the electric motor, which is connected to a shaft coupled to the stop valve spindle by means of an intermediary spring under tension permitting relative rotation of the shaft with respect to the valve spindle, is also employed for controlling a reversing switch adapted to control the circuit of the motor in such a manner that upon closure of the valve the reversing switch is only actuated so as to break the motor circuit and )r-epare a circuit toragain opening the valve hy the reversal of the motor, after the valve has been completely closed. The rotary movement or" the motor relative to the valve provides suliicient play to permit the revers ing switch to operate in good time, and at any rate not too early, to cut oil and reverse the motor in preparation tor'the return movelnent. V

A preferred constructural forinoi the in vention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic front view of the stop valve and its associated actuating and controlling mechanism.

Figure 2 is a partly sectional side View of the actuating and controlling mechanism.

Figure is a view in detail, on the line IIIIII 01" Figure 1, or controlling mechanism for the reversingswitch.

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of the stop valve, its associated actuating and controllingmechanism and the circuits for controlling the motor of the actuating mech anism.

Figure 5 is a View of a modification of a portion of the apparatus in detail.

Referring now to the drawings, .AL is a stop valve mounted in a. water conduit and B an electric motor adapted to open and close the valve. The motor Bis arranged to rotate, through the intermediary oi toothed wheel transmission mechanism illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a vertical hollow shaft Z) carrying the body or drum 0 of a spiral 239,597, and in Switzerland December 18, 1926.

spring casing 0, having a lower portion or lid 0 whieh is separate from the drum 0 and is securedto a shaft cl which is connected by a coupling (2 with the spindle a of the stop valve A. The coupling 6, being in the, form of a pin coupling of known type permits of longitudinal movement of the valve spindle a with respect to the shaft cl. The spiral springc inside the casing C is secured at'its inner end toa boss of the casing lid 0 and at its outer end to the cylinder 0 of the casing C (Figure 2). The spiral spring 0 is v continuously under tension and its release is prevented by two coacting stops f, f of which one, f is on the drum 0 and the other, f on the lid 0 Upon rotation of the electric motor in such a direction as to close the valve therefore the shaft cl is rotated positively but in a resilient manner by means of the spiral spring 0 under tension and in order to open the valve 'A the motor is rotated in a direction opposite to the previous direction of rotation.

The circuit arrangements of the electric motor B are illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 4. The circuit of theelectric motor is controlledby a control switch G which is arranged to close an electric contact 5/ or in the energizing circuit of the motor B in accordance with alterations in conditions," as for instance variations in temperature within certain limits, which acting on a metallic rod cause themovement of the switch.

In order to permit of the reversal of the direction of rotation of the electric motor B, the latter is provided with a three-pole reversing switch H. The reversing switch,

illustrated in the circuit of the motor windings according to Figure 4c, is provided with three reversing levers ]t1, 7%, k mounted on a common shaft h by means of interme dia-te insulating bushings, and adapted to be reversed by means of corresponding tumbler switch devices (Figure 3) mounted on theshaft, thus ensuring instantaneous con nection in one or the other contact position. The levers 7L 7& it cooperate on the one hand with stationary contact discs 10 through which the shaft 72 passes freely and which are connected to the motor circuits as shown in Figure l; on the other hand, they can each be brought alternately into contact with two corresponding contact fingers 11, 12 aligned the one,-11, according to positionl and the other, 12, according to position II of Inn ure 3) and provided with a reversing pin 2',

rotary movement being transmitted to the arm I through toothed wheel transnussion mechanism is, H, as illustrated in F igure a in which. for the sake of clearness, the con-v trolling arm I is illustrated as being at one side of the shaft Z). The toothed wheel transmission mechanism 711* is, k is in such relation with the rotational movement of the electric motor for the movement of the stop valve, that only after complete closure of the stop valve will the controlling arm I by means of its pin i, eiiect the reversal of the levers of the reversing switch. Reversal is etfected by the pin a of the controlling arm I towards the end of its movement abutting against an arm at secured to thetumbler switch shaft h, and thereby moving the tumbler switches j over their dead centre positions, so that they then reverse the switch levers of the reversing switch from one contact position to the other-very rapidly.

The method of operation of the remotecontrol apparatus for the stop valve isas follows:

In Figure at the valve is shown in the open position but as soon as the contact arm of the control switch G touches the contact g, current flows from the supply terminal a: through the reversing switch levers h, it to the terminal 2 of the motor armature 3, through the armature to the terminal 4,

through the switch lever h and through the field windings 5, 6 of the motor to the supply terminal y. The motor then rotates the shaft 6 in the direction indicated by the arrows and by means of the spiral spring a.

driven shaft I) however still rotates through a central angle, whereby the stop is removed from the stop 7 and the spiral spring 0 is still further tensioncd, so that the valve disc is pressed yet more firmly on its seat. Finally the controlling arm I, which by means of the toothed wheel transmission mechanism k, k, 10 is about to complete its rotation, effects the reversal of the reversing switch II from the positon I as shown to the position II, in which the motor circuit is interrupted and the electrical circuits for the return movement of the motor completed.

It now by reason of alterations in conditions, the contact arm of the control switch G touches the contacts 9', current will flow from the supply terminal :22, throughthe switch/i k to the terminal l of the mo tor armature 3, through the latter, but now in an opposite direction from the last, to the terminal 2 and switch lever, h and through the field windings 5, 6 of the motor in the same direction as before, to the supply terminal 3 The motor is now rotated in the reverse directiointhe shaft 7) being rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrows until the stop f abuts against the stop 1" and upon further rotation of the motor the valve spindle is moved to open the valve. After its rotary movement in the opposite direction the control arm I throws the reversing switch H from its position II back to the position I, whereby the motor circuit is broken and its circuit for the next closing movement of the valve completed.

The reversing switch H, as illustrated in Figure 2 is as a whole removable from the casing K provided for protecting the motor and the controlling mechanism,so that it is easily accessible for inspection, and is provided with an additional switch lever 70 which is mounted on the shaft h by means of an insulating bushing and controls a signalling circuit w (Figure 4:) by means of a con tactdisc 13 and a contact finger 14 contacted or not by said switchlever. In the position of the parts of the reversing switch as illustrated in Figure 4, the signalling circuit to is opened. It the reversing switch G is reversed in the above described manner to illustrated in Figure 4, the signalling circuit 10 is closed by the switch lever h whereby the signal lamp w is illuminated. v

The spiral spring '0 plays an important part. Firstly it permits, after closure of the valve, rotation of the motor relatively to the valve, so as to permit even at the commencement of the control movement, the reversal of the reversing switch H only after the complete closure oi? the valve, and in any case not too early, as for instance, when the valve is not i stops f, f yet further tensioned, which ensures a tight closure of the valve.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 5 the helical spring casing C is not mounted in alignment with the spindle shaft of the valve, but is at one side thereof, so that by means of transmisison mechanism 7*, r it acts with increased force on the shaft (Z to be connected to the valve spindle, which is to be rotated.

Instead of a spiral spring a helical torsion spring could be employed in both cases.

Attention is called to a constructional detail whereby the valve is suspended by brackets a from the casing K, which protects the motor and the controlling mechanism, the valve being thereby readily removablein View of the constructional form of the coupling 6.

As an example of the application of the improved remote-control apparatus in practice, a refrigerating installation may for example be mentioned, in which the control switch G is constituted by a thermostatic switch which IOI in accordance-with the temperature of the brine has tocontrol the cooling water stop valve of the refrlgerating machine, so that the starting and stopping of the refrigerating machine is auton'iatically controlled according to temperature conditions. However this is not the only possible application of the invention and the cont-r01 switch G may be con structed and aranged to be operated as stated in the opening paragraphs of thespecification in any suitable manner according to the particular use to which the apparatus is to be put. 7

lVhatI claim is l 1. In an electric remote-control apparatus for step valves, the combination of an electric motor, a motor shaft connected thereto,

a rotary spindle connected to the valve, an interconnecting tensioned spring device between said motor shaft and said valve spindle arranged to allow resilient closure of the valve and positive opening thereof under the control of said motor, an automatic reversing switch for the circuit of said motor and transmission means between the motor shaft and said reversing switch arranged in'such a manner that upon closure of the valve the reversingswitch is actuated so as to break the operative motor circuit and to prepare same for again opening thevalve by reversal of the motor, after the valve has been completely closed.

2. In an electric remote-control apparatus for stop valves, the combination of an electric motor, a motor shaft connected thereto, a rotary spindle connected to the valve and coaxially arranged with said motor shaft, an interconnecting tensioned spiral spring between said motor shaft and said valve spindle arranged to allow resilient closure of the valve and positive opening thereof under the control of said motor, an automatic reversing switch for the circuit of said motor and transmission means between the motor shaft and said reversing switch arranged in such a manner that upon closure of the valve the reversing switch is actuated so as to break the operz tive motor circuit and to prepare samefor again opening the valve by reversal of the motor, closed.

3. In an electricremote-control apparatus for stop valves, the combination of an electric motor a motor shaft connected thereto, a rotary spindle connected to the valve, two arms mounted respectively on said motor shaft and said valve spindle, said arms being in unilateral engagement with one another, an interconnecting tensioned spiral spring between said motor shaft and said valve spindle to cause said engagement, but arranged to allow resilient closure of the valve under the control of said motor, an automatic reversing switch for the circuit of said motor and transmission means between the motor shaft and after the valve has been completely said reversingswitch arrangedin such a manner that upon closure of the valve the reversing switch-is actuated so as to break the op erat-ive motor circuit and toprepare same for again opening the valve by reversal of the motor, after the valve has been completely closed.

4. In an electric remote-control apparatus for stop valves, the combination of an electric motor, a motor shaft connected thereto, a rotary spindle connected to the valve, two arms mounted respectively on said motor shaft and said valve spindle, said arms being in unilateral engagement with one another, an interconnecting tensioned spiral spring between said motor shaft and said valve spindle to cause said engagement, but arrangedto allow resilient closure of the valve under the control of said motor, a frame work arranged to carry the whole of said parts, an automatic reversing switch for the circuit of said motor, mounted on a removableframe part, I

of the motor, after the valve has'been completely closed.

5. In an electric remote-control apparatus for stop valves, the combination of an electric motor, a motor shaft connected thereto, a rotary spindle connected to the valve, two arms mounted respectively on said motor shaft and said valve spindle, said arms being in unilateral engagement with one another, an interconnecting tensioned spiral spring between said motor shaft and said valve spindle to cause said engagement, but arranged to allow resilient closure of the valve under the control of said motor, an automatic reversing switch for the circuit of said motor, a signalling circuit, an auxiliary switch for the latter combined with said reversing switch, and transmission means between the motor shaft and said reversing switch arranged in such a manner that upon closure of the valve. the reversing switch is actuated so as to break the operative motortcircuit and to prepare same for again opening the valve by reversal. of the motor, after the valve has been completely closed. g I

6. In an electric remote-control apparatus for stop valves, the combination of an electric motor, a motor shaft connected thereto, a

for again opening the valveiby reversal of the motor, after the valve has been completely closed. 10 In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 25th day of November, 1927.

FRITZ SAUTER. 

